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All phones sold in the EU to have replaceable batteries from 2027
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this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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The way we always did, of course. I’ve an underwater camera from the 80s that has user replaceable batteries and film.
The idea that they have to be designed the way they are for dust/waterproofing reasons is just propaganda by the device manufacturers. There’s more money in them not being serviceable because that means that they can upcharge you for fixes, or better, push you to buy a new device when your current device doesn’t work the way it should.
Yea but that underwater camera is encased in a huge plastic shell. Are you going to be carrying around your phone in a huge plastic shell?
It’s actually not as large and bulky as you might think. These ideas aren’t mutually exclusive is the thing. My old work phone was a Samsung XCover. They have replaceable batteries and are waterproof.
They’re a little bulkier than my 16 Pro, but not by that much, and the bulk isn’t really for waterproofing reasons alone.
Seal the phone and leave the battery compartment just weather proof. You’ll still be able to drop the phone in the toilet or whatever and the phone will be basically identical except with a slide off back. We’ve done it before, it’s not impossible.
Again, the idea that having devices be user serviceable leads to them needing to be designed to not be dust or waterproof is just a lie sold to us by the manufacturers. They could make our devices user serviceable, but they choose not to. Every time they’ve been coaxed into even a little bit of consumer friendliness, they oblige in the most malicious ways they can.
What I’m saying is, you don’t need to play the Devil’s Advocate. His position isn’t based on reality.
The majority of people don't need phones that can survive underwater. Most get exposed to a bit of rain occasionally and that's it. So even if it was impossible for both to exist (it isn't), we don't need it anyway. People are sold "IP68" or whatever because it allows manufacturers to make their phones harder to repair, that's the only reason.
I actually use the waterproofing on my phone fairly regularly. I've used it to take pictures in and under water and it's handy to be able to wash it under running water. Also if I'm riding my bike in the rain I don't have to worry about my phone getting wet or sweat getting into when it's in my jersey pocket in the summer.
I think it will be pretty hard for Apple to design an iPhone with a removable battery without compromising somewhere. Making it waterproof, with a removable battery, not more bulky and with the same kind of sleek design sounds really hard. Still, it's good that the EU is forcing them to figure it out.
Yes, you have, but the majority don't, they only need basic splash protection.
Either way, there will be waterproof phones with removable batteries. They said the same thing when they removed the 3.5mm port, it's all lies.
What about toilet drops 👀
What about drops from height? We don't all use super rugged phones incase of that? Just don't hold your phone over the toilet!
Take a look at the latest gopros. They work underwater, are tiny, and have replaceable batteries. All you need is a watertight seal, and they've gotten those down in size by quite a lot.
There are plenty of phones that were designed, manufactured and sold with these two features.
Not all of them use the "case around a camera" approach (although a lot do, admittedly). The Olympus Tough series of cameras don't, for example. And really, phones would have pretty simple seams around the battery.
When I screw the lid onto my coffee cup, it becomes waterproof. Nothing gets in and the coffee doesn't come out. Waterproofing doesn't require an adhesive.
Oh I like that. Screw in a circular battery like a large CR2020. Good concept.